What is it?

Lupron, with the generic namesleuprolide acetate orleuprorelin, is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist) shot or implant which can help reduce estrogen release. Fertility Drugs Online sells the Lupron powder for suspension, for intramuscular injection. This fertility drug can help control ovulation during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, being sure that the eggs are released at the desired time for harvesting. This medication can also help control pain and shrink lesions related to endometriosis, a common cause of infertility in women.

Why do doctors prescribe this medication?

Doctors may prescribe Lupron shot to women who have endometriosis or to women who are undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, to help control their ovulation. Doctors sometimes prescribe this medicine for other uses such as treating prostate cancer in men, treating ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or uterine fibroids in women, or delaying sexual development in children experiencing precocious puberty (also called early puberty) or who are transgendered. Studies also suggest that this medicine can help preserve ovarian function, and thus fertility, during chemotherapy treatments.

How does the drug work?

The drug works by suppressing hormonal signals in the brain which control the production of the hormone estrogen. This reduces the amount of estrogen in the body. When the drug is treating endometriosis, this means that the endometrial tissue is not stimulated to cause pain and other symptoms and is not triggered to grow. For infertility related to endometriosis, doctors may use fertility drugs for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, with Lupron to control ovulation. When the medication is used for IVF treatments, it stops the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), which would otherwise trigger ovulation. This means that the fertility doctor can control when ovulation occurs, timing it so that they can retrieve the eggs without the cycle ending too early. In other cases, this medicine reduces the amount of testosterone in males or estrogen in females, helping to treat symptoms of prostate or ovarian cancer by slowing the growth of cancer cells, or helping to delay puberty.

When and how to inject

How and when you take this medication depends on what medical condition you have and other individual factors. Your doctor will give you directions on how and when to inject this medication, as well as the dosage, and you can also refer to your package insert for additional information. For the Luteal Lupron Protocol, your doctor will likely instruct you to start taking the drug seven days before your next menstrual cycle. In the Flare protocol, your doctor may tell you to take this medication on day two of your menstrual cycle, possibly in conjunction with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), then human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or luteinizing hormone (LH) once the eggs are mature to stimulate ovulation. After this, you will likely visit your fertility doctor about a day and a half later so they can harvest your eggs for IVF treatments.

To inject this medication, first make sure you have washed your hands thoroughly with soap and water and have wiped the bottle and injection site with alcohol. Pull back the syringe plunger to the 20 unit mark, remove the needle cover, and insert the needle through the rubber stopper on the Lupron bottle. Push the plunger in all the way, then turn the bottle upside down while keeping the tip in the liquid. Slowly pull back on the plunger to fill the syringe to the desired dose, checking for air bubbles. If you see air bubbles, push the plunger slowly to remove the air bubbles, then refill the syringe slowly by pulling back on the plunger again. Follow your doctor's instructions for injecting this medicine, which will either be to keep the skin taught at the injection site or to pull up a little flesh. Insert the needle into your skin at a 90 degree angle and push the plunger in to administer the medicaiton. Hold an alcohol wipe to your skin as you withdraw the needle, and dispose of the needle and syringe safely. Always follow your doctor's specific instructions for injecting the drug.

Side Effects

In the first few weeks when you are taking this medicine, your hormone levels will increase then decrease, which may trigger side effects.

The most common side effects could include

Mild pain

Burning, or bruising and bleeding at the injection site

Menopause-like symptoms like excessive sweating or night sweats

Hot flashes and flushing

Tiredness

Fatigue

Trouble sleeping

Joint pain

Muscle aches

Dizziness

Headache

Acne

Breast changes

Upset stomach

Increased urination at night

Swollen feet and ankles

Vaginal discomfort

Dryness

Bleeding

Reduced interest in sex

If these side effects worsen or persist long-term, seek medical attention.

Serious side effects could include

Mood or mental changes such as depression and thoughts of suicide

Increased thirst and urination

New or worsening bone pain or bone fracture

Severe dizziness or fainting

Weakness on one side of the body

Fast or irregular heartbeat

Slurred speech or seizure

Pain in the jaw, chest, or left arm

Seek medical attention immediately if any of these negative effects occur. Rarely, you could develop pituitary apoplexy, which is a serious problem with your pituitary gland, between the first hour and two weeks after your first injection. If you have symptoms of pituitary apoplexy, like

Sudden severe headache

Vision changes

Severe vomiting

Severe mental or mood changes like confusion or difficulty concentrating

Seek medical attention immediately. Rarely, a serious allergic reaction to this medication could cause symptoms including

Trouble breathing

Rash

Severe dizziness

Itching and swelling of the face, tongue, and throat

There are also some reports from patients that taking this drug may lead to

Weight gain

Weight loss

Diarrhea

Constipation

Memory loss, or hair loss

Men and children may have different side effects when taking this medicine. These may not be all the possible side effects.

Precautions

Do not use this medication if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Alcohol and Lupron can interact, increasing the chance of upset stomach, nausea, and dizziness. Although the drug may cause spotting or prevent a period, it is not a form of birth control. Keep your medicine and needles out of the reach of children and store this medicine at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Properly dispose of any needles and do not reuse your needles or syringes. Vary the injection site with each injection to reduce irritation. The drug may have a half life of about three hours, which could help give you an idea of how long it will stay in your system, although the time for Lupron to wear off after coming off this fertility therapy could vary.

Other medications prescribed with it

Along with your Lupron or other GnRH-agonist medication therapy, your fertility doctor may prescribe a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). While the FSH helps to grow follicles, which can then produce and release eggs from the ovaries, the Lupron or other GnRH-agonist helps to control this process, allowing egg harvesting for IVF treatments. Doctors may prescribe human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or leuteinizing hormone (LH) to stimulate the ovaries to release an egg once the Lupron has finished suppressing ovulation. To help counteract the side effects of the medication, your doctor may also prescribe Add-Back therapy; these norethindrone acetate 5mg pills add a small amount of the hormone progestin to your body. You may also use fertility monitors and fertility tests during treatment to determine the best time to conceive.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a relatively common condition in which tissue that normally grows in the uterus grows in other locations, such as the ovaries, bowels, and pelvic tissues. Because hormones can affect this type of tissue, it can have unusual effects in locations where this type of hormonally-regulated tissue does not normally grow. This can cause scars, adhesion that binds organs together, irritation, pain during menstruation, and fertility problems. About one third to one half of all women with endometriosis have trouble conceiving and carrying a child. Potential solutions include surgery to remove the excess tissue, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and other fertility treatments involving hormones.

Where to order

Fertility treatments and fertility drugs can be costly, making a financial barrier for couples who want to conceive a child, even with copay assistance. We, as a licensed Pharmacy in Canada, can help you purchase affordable Lupron for your fertility treatment. Talk to your fertility doctor, and if she feels this medicine is the best fertility drug for your needs, she will write you a prescription. Submit your prescription to us through our website or by phoning our customer service hotline, and we will deliver your fertility drugs to you, with free shipping, so you can start your fertility treatments and aim for pregnancy success.